Pain in the neck - this is what leads to the said posture, the "couch" way of life, excessive physical activity. There are many factors that do not affect the cervical spine in the best way. Let's find out why the neck hurts and what to do to relieve discomfort.
Cervicalgia and cervicalgo
Pain in the neck is divided into two types:
- Circumcalgia is a continuous spasm in one place. Appears gradually, its intensity varies. The neck constantly hurts, and in one place - you need to go to the hospital, a serious illness can develop.
- Cervicago is unexpected pain that starts and stops quickly. The reason may be too sudden movements of the head or a long stay in one position.
During the attack, coordination is disrupted and painful impulses respond in other parts of the body.
Cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a violation of the articular joints. The disease is formed mainly in those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, malnourished. Not the last role is played by hereditary predisposition. People suffering from osteochondrosis experience dizziness, a din in the eardrums and stiffness in the limbs. The back of the head hurts, it burns between the shoulder blades. Often complain that the spine hurts the neck. It becomes difficult to turn the handle, the movements are accompanied by a crunch sound. Possible numbness.
Aching pain in the neck indicates the development of this disease. The neck hurts on the left side or on the right side - most likely, osteochondrosis.
Pain in the cervical spine is accompanied by this disease. If you turn to a specialist in a timely manner, it can be easily cured.
Osteoarthritis of the cervical spine
The disease occurs even in young people. The left side of the neck, shoulder, arm, chest hurts, visual and auditory disturbances, impaired concentration are possible. For people with this disease, doctors recommend peace and rest, prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs.
Herniated discs
Not only a full-fledged hernia, but also a minimal swelling of the disc is strongly felt: the channel in the cervical region is narrow, the nerve endings are at a short distance. Pain on the left side of the neck, lower back, lower back. The disease develops from unhealthy diet, inactivity, lack of physical development. For treatment, the technique of acupressure and vacuum therapy is used.
Cramp
The neck can hurt due to excessive physical exertion: after a training session, for example. The main symptom of a sprain is severe pain in the neck. The damaged area swells, it becomes impossible to turn the head, it can take an unnatural position, and the patient may faint. To make it easier for you, you can do anesthesia, apply a cold or hot compress, massage the sprained area. It is not recommended to lie on your stomach - in this case, the head will be turned to the right or left, and the strained ligaments may not resist. For a few weeks, it is better to give up physical activity. When the pain subsides, you can start kneading the neck, tilting it to the sides.
Spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis is a serious condition that can lead to disability and requires immediate consultation with your doctor. Spondylosis can be a neglected form of osteochondrosis. The disease occurs mainly in the elderly, as well as in athletes as a result of injuries. Unpleasant sensations in the occipital part of the head and the neck area become permanent.
Another signal is a shooting pain in the left neck. There is a feeling of stiffness, discomfort when turning the head.
There are many opinions on how to treat cervical spondylosis. The main thing is to eliminate inflammation and pain. Drug therapy, physiotherapeutic procedures combined with therapeutic exercises will help restore working capacity and improve the general condition of the body.
cervical myelopathy
Myelopathy occurs after a narrowing of the spinal canal. Pain in the cervical spine signals the development of myelopathy. People with myelopathy feel sore and weak, they often feel shocked in their limbs, speech slows down, it becomes difficult to take steps, coordination is disturbed. The disease occurs after falls from great heights and accidents. The patient wears a soft cervical collar, undergoes a course of physiotherapy and strengthening exercises.
Whiplash
The term whiplash is used to describe pain resulting from soft tissue injury. Damage occurs due to sudden extension with additional flexion and vice versa. Sharp pain in the neck (any area) after a fall, fight, or accident can signal whiplash.
Ligaments are damaged - the head takes a protruding position, cervical lordosis is lost. After an injury, an X-ray examination is mandatory. The attenuation of the disease occurs after 1 to 6 months.
Cervical injury
Pain in the cervical spine appears after injuries, unsuccessful jumps into water, accidents. Unnatural curvature, aching pain in the back of the head indicates an injury to the cervical region. Edema and hematomas appear, the motor functions of the body are disturbed. For those with cervical spine pain, doctors will first prescribe wearing a special collar for several months.
infections
Infectious skin diseases lead to inflammation, which can be accompanied by severe pain. With infections, such as tonsillitis or rubella, the lymph nodes expand and lead to unpleasant painful sensations in the neck muscles.
Pathology of internal organs
Severe neck pain often foreshadows a pathology. With pain in the right hypochondrium, extending to the neck on the right side, the development of cholecystitis is suspected. If the cervical temples hurt in the morning, it looks like hypertension. The pain in such cases is reflected and comes from the head, heart and esophagus. Myocardial infarction and angina pectoris are often accompanied by pain in the chest, shoulders and arms.
Patients who survived similar diseases complained of pain in the left neck. Pain in the neck on the right, cramps in the thigh on the same side suggest the development of cholecystitis. Pain in the front of the neck gives reason to suspect a disorder of the thyroid gland, esophagus, larynx or pharynx. Perhaps local neuritis develops - nerve damage. It usually happens after poisoning with chemicals, such as alcohol.
Choppy pain in the cervical spine is a harbinger of a developing pathology. In this case, the pressure jumps a lot. Pain in the neck on the right, with limited ability to move the head, torments during meningitis.
The painful sensations on the side are the result of the expansion of the tumor in the brain. Help should be sought immediately. Pain in the neck in front on the right or on the left may indicate the presence of pharyngitis, laryngitis, lymphangitis or any other disease associated with inflammation of the viscera.
It hurts in the cervical spine - perhaps there is a process of development of meningitis, tuberculosis, osteomyelitis. A non-dangerous disease that can be easily treated - vegetative-vascular dystonia can also be accompanied by ailments. Pain in the cervical region is given to the limbs, to the back there are surges, shortness of breath, lethargy.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by shooting pains in the neck. It intensifies at night.
Other reasons
Often the pain in the neck on the right is the result of a banal lumbago. Lumbago or lumbago - contraction of the neck muscles. It is harmless and goes away on its own after a few weeks. Most often manifested by a draft, the pain spreads to the head, chest. The neck hurts very badly on the left or on the right - maybe the person just "lay down" on this side. Body passivity harms the physical condition and impairs the functioning of the vessels of the cervical spine. During this kind of disease, it is enough to change the position of the body.
Many obese people often have neck pain. The spine and cervical vertebrae cannot withstand excess weight, they have a huge load, and they begin to actively resist.
Stress and psychological tension become the causes of painful sensations. Emotional outbursts and tension often cause neck pain. On him, as on any other part of the body, there are many nerve endings. If the shoulders also hurt, tingling and numbness are felt, the nerve is pinched. The pain will subside after an injection or taking an anesthetic drug.
Pulls muscles - perhaps you should diversify your day with walks in the fresh air. Pain on the right side in a healthy neck - the person was simply too cold.
Processing
Those who are constantly worried about the cervical region should consult a specialist. This is very important, especially if the temperature rises with severe pain. When the neck hurts for three days, you need to sound the alarm. Treatment of a sore neck can only be prescribed by a specialist.
Doctors usually prescribe medication. It is recommended to lubricate the disturbing parts of the neck with preparations with a warming effect. Permanent pain can make a person irritable: the doctor prescribes sedatives, antidepressants. Pain in the neck on the right, left, front, sides and back can be relieved by applying a heating pad to the affected area or wrapping it in a warm scarf.
Massage is a mandatory wellness procedure. You can do it yourself. The neck hurts in front, for example - gently stroke and rub its surface, trying not to touch the Adam's apple. Blood circulation will improve, and pain in the cervical region will cease to bother.
It is recommended to treat severe neck pain with warm compresses. In such cases, a person needs complete rest, and the pain in the right or left neck will disappear in a few minutes. If the situation is serious, a professional who knows how to treat neck pain, such as a qualified physical therapist, should take over.
Bruises and sprains are relieved by cold compresses. In medical practice, acupuncture and health-enhancing physical education are often used, especially with constant neck pain.
In particularly severe cases, patients are operated on, but this is the exception rather than the rule. If the treatment of the cervical region is successful, you can get rid of the discomfort in a few months.
How to self-treat neck pain
What the patients did not invent! For sprains or minor injuries, you can use informal pain management methods. There is a proven way to get rid of neck pain in an hour.
Fold the gauze into three layers. Boil the potatoes in their uniforms, then push them and tie them around the neck through a kitchen towel, then warm them with a scarf or towel. As the potatoes cool, remove the layers of cheesecloth. At the end of the procedure, rub the neck with alcohol.
In order for the pain in the cervical region to stop, you need to follow a few simple rules:
- Maintain correct posture. A twisted back contributes to muscle strain. The shoulders should be lowered, the chin should be in a raised position. Sitting with a twisted back, you risk getting seriously ill.
- Prefer a backpack to a bag. The load will be evenly distributed on the left and right sides of the body, and the pain in the cervical spine will subside.
- While reading, keep your head straight, do not bend down. You can fix it with a roller or a pillow (not soft), change position.
- Schedule time for physical activity. Yoga, swimming, fitness strengthen the neck muscles. If it is not possible to train, take breaks from work, stretch, relax all muscles.
- Take a contrast shower. When changing cold and hot water, the body experiences stress: blood circulation accelerates, muscles, including the neck, involuntarily strengthen.
- Don't stress too much. When the neck hurts badly, it is better to leave it alone and in no case continue to work or train. Pain in the cervical spine may go away on its own.
- Do not panic. Stress affects not only the psychological health but also the physical health of a person. Instead of shouting "what if the neck hurts terribly on the left", it is better to calm down and assess the situation sensibly.